Matt Joines has his service-academy options when choosing a college football home.
Joines is one of more than 170 Class of 2023 recruits that have received offers from Army, Navy and Air Force.
The East Forsyth (N.C.) safety visited only one before making his decision. Twice.
Army was the most consistent in recruiting Joines.
“They (Army) were my first offer (in March) and ever since then we talked just about every week,” said Joines who committed to coach Jeff Monken and the Black Knights Friday. “They invited me up there twice and both times, I enjoyed it so I ultimately decided that was the place I wanted to go.”
Joines said he was drawn to the “environment, facilities and brotherhood,” during his visits.
“The coaching staff made my commitment feel right because they seem like people I would want to play for,” Joines said. “They are good guys and I feel like they are going to help me play my best.”
Joines is the second member of his family to commit to Army. His older brother, Chris, committed to Army during pandemic in 2020. He was medically disqualified for a food allergy. Chris is now a freshman defensive back at Mercer. Matt said his recruiting was separate from his brother’s.
“My brother committing there didn’t play too much of a role because he committed during COVID so he never got to visit or anything,” Joines said. “I didn’t meet any of the coaches through him before so I don’t think that was much of a factor.”
Army is getting an athletic talent in Joines, who is 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds. Joines was all-conference in basketball. He made 81 tackles, had two interceptions and knocked down five passes to East Forsyth to a 11-2 record as a junior.
Army added two more defensive back commits to its 2023 class this weekend when Phineas Allen (Rockledge, Fla.) and Logan Mackey (C.E. King HS, Houston, Texas) announced their decisions to play for the Black Knights.
2023 commits (37)
LB-S Ali Abdul-Hakeem, 6-foot, 205, Riverdale (Ga.) HS: First offer – Army
WR-CB Malcolm Anderson, 5-10, 185, Andress HS, El Paso, Texas: Other offers – Navy, Texas State, New Mexico State
DB Phineas Allen, 5-10, 180, Rockledge (Fla.) HS: Other offers – Navy, Florida Atlantic, Central Michigan, UMass
RB Myles Arterberry, 5-9, 185, Klein (Texas) HS: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Texas State. Army visit – April 16
T Jacob Benjamin, 6-5, 265, Cherokee Bluff HS, Flowery Branch, Ga.: First offer – Army. Other offers – Air Force
CB Isaiah Birl, 6-1, 185, Walnut Hills HS, Cincinnati, Ohio: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, Western Michigan, Akron, Miami (Ohio), Toledo
RB Ty Brown-Stauffer, 5-10, 200, Danville (Pa.): Army visit – June 23
DE Nick Buchys, 6-3, 240, Neshaminy HS, Langhorne, Pa.: First offer – Army. Army visit – April 14
LB Ray Coney, 6-3, 210, Fairfield (Ohio) HS, Ohio: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Bowling Green
*RB Travion Dickens, 5-10, 180, Prescott (Ark.) HS: First offer – Army. Defensive MVP at Army All-Academic camp in June.
DE Sean Donovan, 6-2, 230, Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Conn.: First offer – Army
OL Cole Evans, 6-2, 300, Archbishop Wood HS, Warminster, Pa.: Other offers – Temple. Army visit – April 22.
RB Brennan Fisher, 5-11, 190, Pennridge HS, Perkasie, Pa.: Army visit – April 9
DL Matt Gemma, 6-3, 280, Delbarton School, Morristown, N.J.: Other offers – Navy, Temple, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Kent State, Rice
DL Caleb Graham, 6-2, 255, Maryville (Tenn.) HS: First offer – Army. Other offers –Navy.
CB Jaxon Hammond, 5-11, 160, Christian Brothers HS, Memphis, Tenn.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Memphis, Marshall, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Arkansas State, UConn. Army visit – April 14
OL Andrew Hardwick, 6-3, 260, Boyle County HS, Danville, Ky.: Other offers – Navy. Army visit – April 2
DB Matt Joines, 6-2, 170, East Forsyth, Kernersville, N.C.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force
DE Aiden Jones, 6-3, 225, Covington Catholic HS, Park Hills, Ky.: Army visit – March 26
FB Greigh Joseph, 6-1, 200, Starr’s Mill HS, Fayetteville, Ga.: First offer – Army
DL Patrick Kendall, 6-5, 270, Cathedral HS, Indianapolis, Ind.: Other offers – Navy
WR Job Kralik, 6-foot, 165, Eatonville (Wash.) HS
S Jake Lindsey, 5-11, 190, Camden County HS, Kingsland, Ga.: First offer – Army. Second offer – Air Force. Third offer – Navy
OL Christopher Luna, 6-3, 275, Tampa (Fla.) Catholic HS: First offer – Army. Army visit – April 22
DB Logan Mackey, 6-foot, 198, C.E. King HS, Houston, Texas
LB-S Kharles Ngansi, 6-3, 200, Oakland Mills HS, Columbia, Md.: Other offers – Akron (COMMITTED, July 1)
QB Hayden Oviatt, 6-1, 200, Wamego (Kansas) HS: Other offers – Kansas, Colorado State, New Mexico State
S Anton Pierce, 6-3, 202, Mills University HS, Little Rock, Ark.: Army visit – April 16
DE-LB Zane Poulter, 6-3, 215, Chico Hills (Calif.) HS: First offer – Army. Other offers – Air Force
LS Drew Prieto, 6-foot, 210, Marist School, Atlanta, Ga.: Army visit – April 22
RB-LB Kyon Simonson, 6-1, 200, Hillside (N.J.) HS: Other offers – UMass. Army visit – April 9
QB Will Smiley, 6-foot, 167, Bay HS, Panama City, Fla.
RB Carson Smith, 6-1, 220, Middletown (Md.) HS
OL Broden Sobolewski, 6-2, 260, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: Army visit – April 22.
TE Nollenn Tabaska, 6-7, 230, Brookfield (Wisc.) East HS: Other offers – Central Michigan
LB Khaled Waliagha, 5-11, 205, Franklinton (La.) HS: 2021 stats – 123 tackles
*RB Bill Young, 5-10, 180, St. Andrew’s School, Boca Raton, Fla.: Other offers – Navy, Air Force, Central Michigan, UMass. Army visit – April 22
Commits by state – Florida (5), Georgia (5), Pennsylvania (4); Texas (3); Arkansas (2); Kentucky (2), Maryland (2); New Jersey (2), Ohio (2), Pennsylvania (2); Tennessee (2); California; Connecticut; Indiana; Kansas; Louisiana; North Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin
Offered by Navy: 13
Offered by Air Force: 9
Offered by Navy and Air Force: 7
